167 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Chen Wan and her group had been staying in this shopping mall for over two months, living in their RV as usual. However, even with the sunroom, Chen Wan began to feel anxious about how much longer they could hold out here. If the snow didn't melt, their stockpile of food would eventually run out, and things would become increasingly difficult. Another month went by, and the surrounding temperatures dropped even further, intensifying the unease among Chen Wan and the others. They had exhausted all their gasoline supplies. While Chen Wan's RV could still run on the power from Zeus, the minibus could not. Qi Jing and the others had found thick down jackets and quilts in the mall to keep warm. The temperature plunged to minus twenty degrees Celsius, and Zai Zai took to fogging up the RV's windows with her breath. She would then draw little animals, like cows, on the fogged-up glass with her tiny, plump hands, delighting in her play. Though no one in the RV said it out loud, everyone was worried about the conditions outside, except for the little one who was genuinely carefree. Zai Zai drew two more little chicks and turned her small face towards Chen Wan, coaxing, "Mommy~ look, little chicks." Chen Wan embraced Zai Zai and gave her a kiss, not forgetting to praise the child, "Our baby is amazing. You even know how to draw chicks now." Hearing her mommy's praise, Zai Zai's face lit up even more, and she drew with renewed enthusiasm. For the next twenty days, it remained freezing every day. Yi Yi detected that the snow on top of the mall was slowly melting under the sun, and in those twenty days, the snow on the rooftop had reduced to less than 10 meters. However, the mall inside remained as cold as ever due to the melting snow. Finally, Chen Wan saw a glimmer of hope. After being trapped in the mall for three months, not only was the rapid depletion of various supplies concerning, but the mental strain from this natural calamity—like a flood—was immense. Even those with supernatural abilities were helplessly caught in it. Another week passed, and the mall slowly poked its head out from under the snow. Chen Wan and her group could see from the fifth-floor window that the snow had melted to the fourth-floor level. However, this was accompanied by an intense heatwave. Opening the window, Chen Wan estimated the outside temperature to be at least 30 degrees Celsius. Both she and Qin Ke were still wearing down jackets, but after standing by the window for just a while, they were drenched in sweat. "This weather is really off." Qin Ke looked outside, her face filled with undisguised concern. "Indeed, from extreme cold to extreme heat. Come on, let's find some disinfectant and alcohol from the supermarket. I have a feeling there might be an outbreak of flu or an epidemic," Chen Wan quickly suggested. "Alright, it's always good to be prepared. Better safe than sorry," Qin Ke agreed, heading together with Chen Wan to the supermarket on the underground level. When the two reached the second floor, although they were still sweating profusely, the temperature was so cold they had to zip up their down jackets tightly. It was truly a temperature change with every few steps. Chen Wan found two small carts at the supermarket. While most useful items had already been taken, bottles of disinfectant and alcohol were still plentiful, as the end times left little room for sanitation concerns. Chen Wan and Qin Ke loaded two carts with disinfectant and alcohol, distributing some to Qi Jing and her group. Qi Jing was surprised to see Chen Wan delivering disinfectant. "Is something going on outside? Why the sudden need for sanitation?" "The snow is melting outside, and such extreme weather can easily lead to epidemics. It's best to be cautious and take precautions," Chen Wan advised. After unloading the disinfectant, Chen Wan fetched a spray bottle, mixed some 84 disinfectant with water, and sprayed it around the RV. Only after completing these tasks did she return to the RV to bathe and change. Upon her return, the little one clung to her, seeking a cuddle. Chen Wan held the little one in her arms, playing with her for a bit. Only then did Jiang Yan Xin ask, "How's it going outside?" "I think the snow will be gone in a few more days, but the outside climate is really odd. It's over thirty degrees Celsius out there. We’re cold now due to the melting snow, but it'll be hot in a few days. Just be cautious; I worry about possible outbreaks of epidemics or such," Chen Wan remarked while squeezing Zai Zai's chubby little hands. "Yes, but at least we'll be able to leave soon. We need to replenish some of our supplies too." After more than three months confined here, grains and flours were running low, and spices and mutant animal meat were also depleting quickly. Chen Wan and her group needed to start searching for more resources. A week later, most of the snow had melted into about tens of centimeters of water covering the roads, but this water had a nasty smell. Particularly, there were many rotting corpses in the water. Chen Wan and her group sterilized the RV and shared the last bit of gasoline with Qi Jing’s team, preparing to leave the mall. Before leaving, Chen Wan inquired about the military's food storage and trading posts, given that Qi Jing had been in the capital longer than they had. "Do you know where the military's supply storage or trading posts are? We might try our luck there; the sudden snowfall might mean there are still plenty of goods at these exchange points," Chen Wan asked. "I do," Qi Jing replied, "If you keep going south on this main road and take the second left, you'll find a military exchange point. We three aren't sure where to go either. Can we drive along behind you?" "Of course, we can search for survivors nearby too. No telling where’s safe now," Chen Wan replied as she headed back to the RV. Chen Wan chose not to help those in the warehouse—survival in the end times depended on self-reliance. She had already done her utmost by ensuring their safety in the mall for the past three months. However, as for where they should go next, Chen Wan felt somewhat lost at the moment. Qi Jing and her companions were similarly directionless, so they decided to accompany Chen Wan's group in searching for supplies and information. Qi Jing’s group chose not to drive the minibus, as it was too large, conspicuous, and guzzled fuel. The three women opted for a small off-road vehicle instead. They found one on the roadside that was still operable, filled up the gas tank, and followed closely behind Chen Wan’s RV, forming a temporary small convoy. Chen Wan also distributed some firearms to Qi Jing for self-defense. Guided by Qi Jing's directions, Yi Yi drove through a devastated cityscape of Beijing. The ground was littered with waterlogged corpses and the oppressive heat resulted in a disgusting stench, conducive to the spread of diseases. After about a twenty-minute drive, they reached a compound with a four-story building within it, modest in scale. Chen Wan parked the RV at the entrance and, along with Qin Ke and others, disembarked. Qi Jing's group of three followed suit, armed as well. "Let's search inside for any supplies we can take, but proceed cautiously," Chen Wan instructed the group before advancing to the building’s entrance wielding her firefighter's axe. The large front door was unlocked, and several bloated, putrid corpses lay nearby—appearances consistent with extended submersion in melting snow. Braving the off-putting smell, they entered. To avoid surprise zombie attacks, Chen Wan slammed her axe against the lobby’s metal bars, hoping to draw out any within the building. Minutes passed, but no zombies emerged. Other than the corpses at the entrance, the building showed no signs of life. "Yi Yi, keep an eye out for people or mutated creatures inside. Let’s begin looking for supplies," Chen Wan said. "Alright," Yi Yi replied, having already activated her scanning function to ensure no life forms, not even corpses, were present inside. With that, Chen Wan’s group could efficiently start collecting supplies. The lower levels were set aside for later, as Yi Yi had said the warehouses were on the third and fourth floors, with offices and soldier accommodations occupying the first two. Hence, Chen Wan and the others headed directly to the third-floor warehouse. The warehouse’s door was a heavy steel panel, secured with numerous locks. With her superhuman strength attribute, Chen Wan swung her firefighter’s axe, hacking through the locks until they clattered to the ground. She cautiously stepped back as the door swung open. Though unlit, the warehouse’s interior became partially visible once fully opened. Neat rows of shelves filled the warehouse, organized with various categorized supplies, appearing remarkably orderly. Chen Wan entered and took a quick survey, spotting items like Grade 2 zombie crystals, Grade 1 zombie crystals, and an assortment of weapons, including firearms, axes, machetes, and military knives. Further inside the warehouse, there were shelves filled with everyday essentials: towels, toiletries, toilet paper, and sanitary pads, all fully stocked. However, there was no food in this warehouse, which Chen Wan figured must be on an upper floor. She instructed everyone to start transporting the household items first, especially toilet paper and sanitary pads, which were rare commodities in the post-apocalyptic world. Chen Wan couldn't imagine life without toilet paper, so she immediately prioritized transporting a significant amount back to their RV. After several round trips of moving items, Chen Wan returned to the shelf with the crystals. This shelf was relatively simple, holding two large boxes—one labeled as Grade 2 zombie crystals and the other Grade 1. These were exactly what Chen Wan's group needed, so Qin Ke and Shen Ming Yan, after a quick inspection, helped carry the boxes away. On the top of the shelf holding the crystals sat a small wooden box that piqued Chen Wan’s interest. She retrieved it to find a Grade 3 mutant animal crystal inside—precisely the rare item they needed. Chen Wan quickly secured the small box for their use. Qi Jing and her companions watched as Chen Wan’s group moved items, recognizing that, having utilized much of their resources in the mall, it was only fair to let them take their pick first. Noticing Qi Jing and her group standing idly, Chen Wan paused, puzzled. "Why aren't you moving anything?" "We're in no rush. We'll let you pick first," Qi Jing replied with a shy smile, urging Chen Wan and her group to continue. With a light laugh, Chen Wan responded, "There's no way we can carry all of this ourselves. I noticed an armored vehicle parked in the garage on the side of the building. You should use that—it's secure and has a lot of space for more supplies. We can't take everything, so you should hurry and load up the armored vehicle." "Alright," Qi Jing agreed. Her group then started eagerly transporting items, initially moving a crate of firearms, followed by three crates of ammunition, and eventually some essential daily goods. The interior of the armored vehicle was spacious, with a large trunk that could hold a significant amount of items. After loading these essentials, Qi Jing's group left space for food and water. Chen Wan's group didn't need more weapons and only took two boxes of bullets symbolically, focusing primarily on household items instead. They also reserved about 60 square meters of space for food, as their stock of mutant meat, particularly the mutant pork, had been significantly depleted over the past three months. This left a substantial amount of room in their compressed storage space.